RAF Typhoon jets have joined forces with French aircraft in a joint strike on an underground arms cache in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK's MoD.
The facility, identified by intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was positioned in hills just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets used Paveway IV guided bombs to target a series of entry passages providing entry to the facility... initial indications are that the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the strike late on Saturday and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - also known as the so-called Islamic State - established jihadist rule over large swathes of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike demonstrates the UK's leading role, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eliminate any re-emergence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
UK warplanes have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of IS subsequent to its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank the personnel of British forces involved in this operation for their skill and their courage," Healey commented. "They were part of numerous British personnel on duty over the festive period. This action, to remove militants who pose a risk to our security, shows how UK forces are ready to step up, all year round, ensuring Britain's security domestically and influential overseas."
Last December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "major assault" against IS targets in the country, following an assault resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The U.N. says Daesh still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
